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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Short-term toxicity to fish

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

The lowest valid 96-h LC50 is 5 mg/l for the freshwater species Salmo gairdneri (new name: Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 5 mg/l for the marine water species Limanda limanda, both tested under flow-through conditions.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish
Effect concentration:
5 mg/L

Marine water fish

Marine water fish
Effect concentration:
5 mg/L

Additional information

Various tests have been carried out to study the toxicity of tetrachloroethylene to fish of which the outcomes are in the same order of magnitude. Studies were evaluated as reliable when measures were taken to monitor concentrations and/or to minimise evaporation of tetrachloroethylene from the test solution. The most sensitive freshwater species in acute toxicity tests appears to be Oryzias latipes with a 48-h LC50 of 1.6 mg/l (Yoshioka et al., 1986). However this study is not considered to be valid. The experimental details are poorly described in the paper, therefore it is not possible to determine if appropriate measures were taken to minimise evaporation of tetrachloroethylene from the test solution. The reported effect concentration appears to be based upon nominal concentrations in the test solution. The next most sensitive freshwater species appears to be Oncorhynchus mykiss with a 96-h LC50 of 5 mg/l (Shubat et al., 1982). The most sensitive marine species is Limanda limanda also with a 96-h LC50 of 5 mg/l (Pearson and McConnell 1975).This study is considered to be valid because the test conditions are fully described in the paper and the effect concentration is based upon measured levels. Other studies were less critical and/or not reliable.